Submarine mine



' Aug. 26, 1924..

G. E. ELIA SUBMARINE MINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 5,

Aug. 26 1924.

1,505,997 G. E. ELIA SUBMARINE MINE Filed Feb. 5, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 24M I fiwww (7W DM W M Aug. 26 1924.

G. E. ELIA SUBMARINE MINE Filed Feb. 5, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 JMLMPatented Aug. 26, 1924 UNlTE 1,505,99? PATENT OFFZCE.

GIQVANNI EMANUELE ELIA, OF WESTMINSTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR- TO VICKERSLIMITED, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND.

SUBMARINE MINE.

Application filed February 5, 1924. Serial No. 690,856.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GIOVANNI EMANUELE ELIA, a subject of the King ofItaly, residing at Vickers House, Broadway, Vestmirr ster, in the countyof London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inor Relating to Submarine Mines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to submarine mines of the kind which comprise ananchor connected to the flotation chamber or mine proper by a mooringcable which is payed out during the separation of the flotation chamberfrom the anchor after the mine has been launched and has reached the seabed or after the flotation chamber has been released from the anchor ata safe depth of submersion for the flotation chamber, in cases where thedepth, and consequently the hydrostatic pressure, is greater than cansafely be resisted by the flotation chamber, the chief object of theinvention being to provide improved means for stopping the paying out ofthe mooring cable so as to determine the final depth of submersion ofthe flotation chamber.

According to the present invention an auxiliary line or cord is employedwhich is carried in the anchor, the upper endof the said line beingdetachably connected, pref erably by hydrostatically controlled means,either to the flotation chamber or to the upper end of the mooring cableand the construction and arrangement of the parts of the flotationchamber and anchor being such that the release of the upper end of theline by the detachable connection is adapted to control or actuate adevice in the anchor for arresting the continued paying out of themooring cable. The use of an auxiliary line in conjunction with ahydrostat carried on the flotation chamber for actuatingdcpth regulatingmeans has previously been pro posed, but the present invention has thefollowing advantages; viz :(l) The auxiliary line from the anchor to theflotation chamher is released after it has fulfilled its func tion as adepth regulating device and falls to the sea bed so that it cannot actin conjunction with the main mooring cable to increase either the amountof seaweed or other driftage collecting on the mooring cable or theresistance offered to sea currents. (2)

The weight supported by the mine is also reduced. (3) The auxiliary lineis carried on a drum in the anchor, instead of being carried by theflotation chamber as has previously been proposed. A much longer andheavier line can, therefore, be employed than is practicable in caseswhere the line is carried by the flotation chamber, thus enabling theflotation chamber to be anchored in greater depths of water. (4:) Theaccuracy of depth taking is not affected by stretching of the auxiliaryline.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into effect the same will now be described more fully withreference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example,several constructional forms of the present invention, and in whichFigure 1 is a diagrammatic View showing Figures 4 and 5 are sectionalelevations of the anchor of a submarine mine fitted with two othermodified forms of the invention.

Figure 6 is a part sectional end view and Figure 7 a sectional elevationshowing partof the flotation chamber and anchor of two other forms ofmines constructed according to the present invention.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 A is the flotation chamber and B is thesinker. C is the mooring rope and D is the mooring rope drum. E is adrum on which the depth wire F is Wound, both the depth wire drum E andthe mooring rope drum D being rotatably mounted upon a fixed shaft Gprovided with a friction disc H located between them. The pressure onthe friction disc H and the resulting brake torque is effected by meansof a helical spring J located around the tired shaft G The mooring ropeC and the depth Wire F are so wound on the drums D and E that whenpulled out or unwound by the buoyancy of the flotation chamber A the twodrums rotate in opposite directions.

The drums therefore brake each other and the tension in both wires isapproximately constant. The upper end of the mooring rope C is connectedto the flotation chamber in any usual or known manner, the mooring rope,in the example shown, being attached to a pivoted lever forming part ofa tension controlled safety device as described in United Statesapplication, Serial No. 661,754. The upper end of the depth wire F isconnected to a hydrostatic release G which is attached to the flotationchamber and which is adapted to release the wire when the flotationchamber ascends to a depth from the surface for which the hydrostat hasbeen set to operate. When the wire F is released by the hydrostat G inany of the ways hereinafter described it drops and the pull previouslytransmitted to the drum E immediately ceases. Consequently the directionof rotation of the drum E will immediately reverse and owing to thefriction disc H located between the two drums it will then rotate in thesame direction as the mooring rope drum D. As soon as the drum Ereverses its direction a ratchet pawl J controlled by a spring j andmounted upon the end of the drum E is adapted to engage with a ratchetplate K and to rotate a stop plate L attached to the ratchet plate Kuntil the end m of a pawl lever M pivotally attached to the sinker D isreleased and the other end of the said lever is pushed by a spring Ninto engagement with the teeth d on the mooring rope drum D, thuslocking the said drum and stopping the continued paying out of themooring cable, the mine being then anchored. As the pull on the depthwire drum will cease immediately the wire F is released from thehydrostat G, the distance that the flotation chamber will ascend afterthe actuation of the hydrostat and before locking of the mooring ropedrum takes place will correspond merely to that part of a revolution ofthe mooring rope drum which occurs during the turning of the stop plateL. The extent of this movement will be approximately constant whateverthe depth setting may be. A stop pin 0 provided on a nut P at the end ofthe shaft G is located in the path of movement of the stop plate L andprevents the stop plate L from being rotated by friction during thehauling out of the depth wire.

Instead of a friction brake the same mutual braking connection betweenthe two drums can be effected by means of a gear pump of the liquidbrake type. In. such cases the mooring rope drum and the depth wlre drumare adapted to drive a gear pump brake the sides of which are connectedtogether. When the depth wire drum stops the oil pressure from themooring rope drum brake will immediately act to rotate it in the reversedirection. The same principle can also be carried out by means of brakesof various kinds. As it is desirable to lay the mine with depth settingsdown to say 20,0 feet two alternative hydrostats may be employed one foruse with settings up to about 30 feet and the other with settings from30 to 200 feet or more. A suitable form of hydrostat for use in caseswhere the flotation chamber is to be anchored at any depth up to 30 feetis described in English Patent Specification N 0. 163339, the depthregulation in such cases being obtained by a movable fulcrum positionedon the lever and connecting the hydrostatic diaphragm to a spring.

For depths between 30 and 200 feet or more it is proposed to use thehydrostat G shown at Figure 3. The hydrostat- G is connected to theflotation chamber at its upper end by means of a pivoted connection 9and by means of a link g to the upper end of the depth wire. Thehydrostatic diaphragm g is located centrally of the hydrostatic chamberand the lower part of the said chamber is open to the surrounding waterthrough openings 9 The diaphragm is provided with a spindle g and on oneside of the said diaphragm g the hydrostatic spring 9 is fitted, while,on the other side of the diaphragm g is a spindle g which is adapted tobe locked to a sleeve g by means of a ball releasing device To set thehydrostat the chamber in the upper part thereof is filled through anonreturn valve 9 with air at a pressure corresponding to thehydrostatic pressure at the required depth, this operation beingpreferably performed by connecting the upper chamber to an air pump, theair pump being provided with a pressure gauge graduated to show thedepths corresponding to different pressures. Before laying the mine thespindle of the hydrostat 1s pushed out by the air pressure to therelease position, but a small shearing pin is provided which is adaptednormally to re tain the sleeve against movement. hen, however, the mineis launched and it descends with the anchor past the depth for which thehydrostat G has been set the diaphragm g is pushed by the water pressureto the position shown at Figure 3, so that the ball release is lockedduring ascent of the mine after it separates from the sinker and untilthe set depth is reached. hen this depth is attained the air pressurebehind the diaphragm g pushes out the diaphragm of the hydrostat and thesleeve 9 is released. The buoyancy pull on the depth wire P then shearsthe pin g and the wire F drops thus locking the mooring rope drumagainst further movement in the manner hereinbefore explained.

The flotation chamber may be held rigidly on the sinker by a suitablerelease such as a hydrostat which allows the flotation chamber toseparate from the sinker befor a safe depth of submersion for theflotation chamber has been passed.

In the example shown at F igures 2 and 3 the mine is fitted, for thispurpose, with a compound time and hydrostatic release Q of the kindwhich is described in United State application Serial No. 690,217.

In lieu of the arrangements previously described the paying out of theauxiliary line during the separation of the flotation chamber' from theanchor and until its release by the hydrostat G may be adapted to effectthe displacement of a member located in the anchor against which anothermember displaced by the paying out of the mooring cable is adapted toabut thereby limiting the paying out of the anchor cable and thuscausing the flotation chamber to assume the desired depth of submersion.Alternative forms of mechanism constructed according to this principleare shown at Figures 4, 5 and 6. In the arrcngement shown at Figure 6the drum R carries the main mooring cable R and the drum S carries theauxiliary line S both drums being located on a screw threaded shaft Twhich'is fixed to the anchor casing. The mooring rope is connected tothe mechanism plate of the mine A as shewn and the auxiliary line to thehydrostatic device G. Any suitable or well known form of braking meansmay be provided for retarding the paying out movement of the drums.Prior to the launching of the mine the drums are in contact with eachother; when, however, the mine has reached the sea bed and the flotationchamber has been released in, any usual manner so that it commences toseparate from the anchor, the auxiliary line S will also commence to payout, thus causing the drum S to move axially along the screw threadedshaft T and thereby to separate from or move synchronously with themooring cable drum R, which latter also commences to move axially alongthe screw threaded shaft as the mooring cable R pays out. \Vhen theupper end of the line S is released by the hydrostat G at the depth forwhich it has been set the drum S which carries the line S will cease torevolve and consequently to move axially along the screw threaded shaft;it will thus act as a brake for the mooring cable drum R which finallyabuts against the drum S and stops the paying out of the anchor cable,thereby anchoring the flotation chamber at the predetermined depthbeneath the surface.

If desired, the drums, instead of being mounted upon a screw threadedshaft common to both of them, may be mounted upon independent screwthreaded shafts T T as shown diagrammatically at Figure 4. In

this case, by making the pitch of the screw threads of one of the shaftsdifferent from that of the other shaft, the auxiliary line drum S can bemade of smaller diameter than the anchor cable drum R. The operation ofthis arrangement is substantially the same as that described above.

B may be rotatably mounted on a screw threaded shaftT situated inrelation to the nut U so that anchor cable drum R will, at thepredetermined time, and after the release of the upper end of theauxiliary line by means of the hydrostat, abut against the nut U tolimit the paying out of the anchor cable.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 7 the auxiliary line S may passaround a pulley \V which is coupled to a pivoted and spring controlledlocking lever or pawl W so as to hold the pawl out of engagement with atoothed wheel or ratchet connected to or forming part of the mooringcable drum R the arrangement being such that when the tension isrelieved owing to the upper end of the cord S being released by thehydrostat G, the said pivoted lever or pawl will engage the ratchet ortoothed wheel W on the mooring cable drum R thus stopping the continuedpaying out of the mooring cable. is a guide pulley on the anchor aroundwhich the line S passes.

Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically the sequence of operations of amine the parts of which are adapted to separate when the mine reachesthe sea bed.

In position 1 the mine and anchor are shown descending together to the.sea bed.

In position-2 the mine has reached the sea bed, the releasing mechanismfor the flotation chamber has been actuated and the flotation chamber isabout to separate by its buoyancy from the anchor. Position 3 shows theflotation chamber during its ascent. At position 4 the mine has reachedthe set depth, the hydrostat has been actuated, the auxiliarylinereleased and the mooring rope drum locked. Position 5 shows theanchored mine with the auxiliary wire lying on the sea bed.

In the case of a mine equipped with a hydrostatic release as shown atFigures 2. and 3 the flotation chamber would be released automaticallyfrom the anchor be fore the mine reaches the sea bed should the mine belaunched in water of a greater ie pressure than could safely be resistedby the flotationchamber.

- mooring rope ,10' chamber to said. sinker, an auxiliary drum depth andconsequently a greater hydrostat.

lVhat I claim and desire to secure byLet sinker, a mooring rope uponsaid drum said connecting withinsaid sinker, .an'auxiliary line uponsaid drum, means connecting one end of said "auxiliaryline tosaidflotationchamber and automatically acting means i for releasing saidconnecting means for the purpose specifled,

2. A submarine mine-comprising a flota-n tion chamber, a sinker,amooring rope con- ,necting saidflotationchamber to'said sinker, 1,nection between said auxiliaryline andsa-id I flotation chamber whichcauses the auxiliary line to unwind as the flotation 1 chamberanauxiliary line within saidsinker,a G011". 'IISClBlO-ILbetweensaidauxihary line and said flotation chamber, andhydrostatically: con-- trolled means for releasing the connectionbetween .saidauxilia-ry line. and said flotation chamber.

3. A submarine mine comprising :a. flota tion chamber, a sinker,amooring rope con necting said flotationichamher tosaid sinker,

I :an auxiliary line Within said sinker, one end P ofsaid auxiliary linebeing connected to said I flotation'chamber, and a pair ot' hydrostats:one'being adapted to. release the auxiliary line at depths up, to 30;feet and theother being adapted to release theauxiliaryline: at depthsbetween 30 to 200 feet and upwards.

4. A submarine mine comprising a buoy ant flotation chamber, a sinker, amooring rope connecting said buoyant flotation chamher to said sinker,an auxiliary line within said sinker, one end of said auxiliary linebeing connected to said flotation chamber, both said mooring rope andsaid auxiliary line being adapted to unwind as the buoyant flotationchamber and anchor separate after launching of the mine, hydrostaticallycontrolled means for releasing automatically the connection between saidauxiliary line and said flotation chamber, and means controlled by therelease of said auxiliary line for stopping the separation of theflotation chamber from the sinker.

5. A submarine mine comprising a buoyant flotation chamber, a sinker, arotatable drum within said sinker, a mooring rope upon said drum, anauxiliary rotatable drum within said sinker, an auxiliary line upon saidauxiliary drum, one end of said auxiliary line being connected to saidflotation chamber, both said mooring rope and said auxiliary line beingadapted to pay out as the buoyant flotation chamber and anchor separateafter launching of the mine, hydrostatically controlled means forreleasing automatically the connection between said said. flotation 7auxiliary line and said flotation chamber, and means controlled by therelease or said 'auxiliary line for 'stoppmg the separation of theflotationchamber from, the sinker.

6. A submarine mine comprising a flota--- tron chamber, a sinker, amooring rope'connecting said flotation chamber to saidsinker, I

anauxiliary line Within said sinker, a con 'IIGCiJlOIl'WhIOh causes theauxihary l-me to unwind as sald flotation'chamber and sinker i I 76hydrostatically controlled means: for breakseparateat'ter launching ofthe mine and ingsaid connection so as to "allow the un wound portionoftheauxiliary line'to fall to the sea bed, for: the purpose specified.

. 7. A submarine mine comprising a flota- ,tion chamber, 'a'sinker, I amooringrope con I necting said flotatlon chamber. to said sinker,

an auxiliary line Within said sinker, a con separates from the: sinker,hydrostatically I I controlled means for breaking the connection betweensaid auxihary line and said 8. A'submarine mine comprising a flota-' A't-ion chamber, a sinker, a drum within said sinker, a mooring, ropeupon. said drum said rope connecting sa1d flotation mooring chamber tosaid sinker, an auxiliary drum within said sinker, an auxiliary lineupon said drum, means connecting one end of said auxiliary line to saidflotation chamber, automatically acting means for breaking theconnection between said auxiliary line and said flotation chamber, andhydrostatically operated means which, after launching of the mine andbefore it reaches the sea bed, releases automatically the flotationchamber from the anchor above a depth at which the flotation chamber isliable to be damaged.

9. A submarine mine comprising a flotation chamber, a sinker, a mooringrope con necting said flotation chamber to said sinker, an auxiliaryline within said sinker, one end of said auxiliary line Within saidsinker, one end of said auxiliary line being con nected to saidflotation chamber, hydrostatically controlled means for releasing theconnection between said auxiliary line and said flotation chamber, andhydrostatically operated means which, after launching of themine andbefore it reaches the sea bed, releases automatically the flotationchamber from the anchor above a depth at which the flotation chamber isliableto be damaged.

GIOVANNI EMANUELE ELIA.

